2 Corinthians 3:14: “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.” Under the Old Testament many were far removed from God. A select group of people seemed to be chosen to carry God’s message. In the New Testament we learn of the Holy Spirit which is offered to believers. The Old Covenant required yearly atonement which could never get rid of sin or make someone perfect. In the New Testament Jesus took away our sin nailing it to the cross. While Jesus did not make us perfect we are seen that way before God because of the blood of Jesus, God will no longer remember our sins. Amen

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

One thing we can take from that verse is that when we accept Jesus we should behave like Jesus as a disciple of Him. We will never be perfect like Jesus but God does desire for us to be a walking example of Christ. Often, when Christians don’t act morally they discourage others from becoming Christians. God’s unmerited favor has saved us but we should not use it as an excuse to sin over and over. We are lucky that God’s grace covers sins, but Paul did instruct us to live as citizens of Heaven in Philippians 1:27 which says, “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.” Amen

Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Jesus teaches us that we should not allow the cares of this life to discourage us in Mark 14:19, and the Apostle Paul teaches the same thing. When we are weak and discouraged God is much stronger and willing & able to comfort us. The Bible teaches to lay down our cares before Him so that He may lift us up. Amen

God is establishing His first covenant with the people of Israel on Mount Horeb.  God spoke there to His people face to face at the mountain in the form of a consuming fire.  However, God’s people were afraid and did not go up to the mountain.  God also speaks to us through Psalms 23 giving us a message that God is with us even during the darkest situations. Micah 5:2 says, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Jesus is the everlasting God and loves us deeply. We have both the Old Testament covenant by God and the New Testament covenant (the NT covenant was fulfilled through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.).

From the Scriptures I know that in Christ I have become dead to the law. I have been made a new creation which is made alive through Christ Jesus.  In the last verse of chapter two of Galatians God makes it clear that righteousness is not given to us by obedience to the law but rather by the grace of God which is given to us by faith in Christ.   After reading the book of Galatians I am in awe of the love of God because it is so far beyond my understanding.  The fact that God loves me so much that He gave His son so that I may have life through Him I view as the ultimate expression of the deep love of God and the desire that He has for me to draw closer to Him.  The cross of Christ helped bridge the gap that I have because of sin and it has brought me to a new life in Christ.  In conclusion, I am very thankful to God for what He has done in my life and how wonderful He is.

When we live a life of good deeds towards others we are expressing our love for Christ. Ephesians 2:10 says “Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.” This verse expresses having an active faith, we aren’t saved by good works. We only do good works because we love God and others. Salvation is a gift from God that can never be earned. Some believe simply living a good life gets you to Heaven but rather it’s Jesus that gets you there. While it is Jesus that gets us to Heaven it is good to live a moral life and use the Bible as our guide. God desires for us to have a relationship with Him and for us to love everyone.

James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” But what does that mean? Well, it can teach us that when we are tempted God can help us to victory over it. Even during the temptation we can see it as a trial and have faith that Christ will help us through it. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10”. “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; Romans 5:3”. Praise God that He is with us in our struggles helping us to overcome them and make us stronger from them. Amen

In the book of 1 Corinthians Paul gives instructions to the church which is at Corinth on how the church should act.  In 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul urges the church to settle their differences and realize that they are all in Christ.  He commands that they join together in unity and in the love of Christ.  Paul refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and tells them that he desires for them to continue their walk in Christ with persistence.  Paul goes on to say that those who follow Christ Jesus have received wisdom from God, and righteousness and forgiveness of sins.  He tells us, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). Praise God. Amen.

Since God is sinless it makes sense that He desires for us to be more like Him.  God desires for us to not just have knowledge of His word but to be better obedient to Him because of what His word has taught us. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. – John 15:4” In contrast Romans 3:20 God makes it clear that we are not saved by obeying the law but instead by the blood of Christ. I love the book of Romans because it helps me further understand the extent of God’s forgiveness, mercy and love by teaching me that regardless of what we have done we can always come to Christ and He will wipe our slate clean and reconcile us to God the Father through His blood on the cross.

Romans 3:9 tells us that everyone has sinned both the Jews and the Gentiles. Romans 3:23 goes on to say that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. This is an important fundamental truth that I believe is very important that we realize because we must confess to God that we have sinned when we accept Jesus. God loves us and is, “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9”. Praise God. Amen